About Streetcar Crowsnest

Streetcar Crowsnest

Streetcar Crowsnest houses three spectacular venues for artistic performance, community events, kids programming, and social and corporate functions: the Guloien Theatre; the Scotiabank Community Studio for performances, community programming and events; a Lobby Bar; and an onsite restaurant.

Streetcar Crowsnest is the first professional performing arts facility of its kind east of the Don Valley Parkway, an area that is home to over 1.3 million people. As a major cultural hub in the east end, Streetcar Crowsnest will strengthen local neighbourhoods, serve residents and their families, and fortify the role of the arts and artists in Toronto.

The Story

The facility is the culmination of a wonderful collaboration between Crow’s Theatre and its lead sponsor, Streetcar Developments, first ignited in 2011. At that time, Crow’s Theatre was completing feasibility assessments and subsequent strategic planning for a new performing arts facility. That ambitious dream rapidly began to take shape following an introductory meeting with Les Mallins and his team at Streetcar Developments. It was immediately clear that, in Mr. Mallins, Crow’s had come upon a rare city-builder: a developer with a demonstrated commitment to bettering its neighbourhood through cultural and community partnerships.

In December 2015, Crow’s announced Streetcar Developments’ generous and game-changing $1.25 million lead gift to the new facility. Shoulder to shoulder with our major sponsor and friends at Streetcar Developments, Crow’s is honoured to announce the name of its new home at Dundas & Carlaw: Streetcar Crowsnest.

In tandem with Streetcar’s multiple projects in 2017, both Crow’s and Streetcar Developments see great things in store for an invigorated nightlife in the city’s east end. "Crow's Theatre is a leader in the east end community and partnering with them was an easy decision. Providing a permanent home for Crow's Theatre has given us the platform to champion the positive growth of arts and culture programming in our neighbourhood - something that is very important to us," said Les Mallins, President, Streetcar Developments. "We especially look forward to the opening of Streetcar Crowsnest in January 2017."

The Facility

The facility design was led by architect Joe Lobko and his award-winning team at DTAH Architects. Mr. Lobko is the principal architect behind notable city-building projects in the GTA, including Wychwood Barns and Evergreen Brickworks.

As a financially-sustainable not-for-profit, Streetcar Crowsnest further exemplifies the objectives and recommendations stated by the Creative Capital Gains Report: An Action Plan for Toronto (2011), including the development of new creative clusters and emerging cultural scenes to capitalize on their potential as generators of jobs and economic growth.

The lobby features an original artwork by local artist Jacob Yerex in honour of Sandra and Jim Pitblado and their commitment to Crow’s Theatre and the arts in general.